. What came next I can't quite call up at this distance o' time. Perhaps
your mother would know,--she's got a better memory for her little
triumphs than I. However, the long and the short o' the story is that we
were married somehow, as I found afterwards. 'Twas on White
Tuesday,--Mellstock Club walked the same day, every man two and two, and
a fine day 'twas,--hot as fire,--how the sun did strike down upon my back
going to church! I well can mind what a bath o' sweating I was in, body
and soul! But Fance will ha' thee, Dick--she won't walk with another
chap--no such good luck."

"I don't know about that," said Dick, whipping at Smart's flank in a
fanciful way, which, as Smart knew, meant nothing in connection with
going on. "There's Pa'son Maybold, too--that's all against me."

"What about he? She's never been stuffing into thy innocent heart that
he's in hove with her? Lord, the vanity o' maidens!"

"No, no. But he called, and she looked at him in such a way, and at me
in such a way--quite different the ways were,--and as I was coming off,
there was he hanging up her birdcage."

"Well, why shouldn't the man hang up her bird-cage? Turk seize it all,
what's that got to do wi' it? Dick, that thou beest a white-lyvered chap
I don't say, but if thou beestn't as mad as a cappel-faced bull, let me
smile no more."

"O, ay."

"And what's think now, Dick?"